What does the prefix fore- mean?
Fore- comes from Old English and means "in front" or "before". It shows a front position, either in space or in time. It is an old English prefix, so it shows up in everyday words, not only in science.
ESEN
Prefix · before / in front
fore-
Signals a front position or anticipation of something: forecast, forearm, forehead, foresee.
Basic
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Fore- as anticipation
The most important use of fore- is getting ahead of something: knowing, saying or warning "before" it happens. That is why you see it in words about forecasts, vision of the future and warnings. If you see fore- with a verb, think: "doing it earlier". If you see it with a body part, think: "the one in front".
How it is used
Attaches to verbs and nouns. Do not confuse with "for-" (no final "e"), which is a different prefix:
- fore- + noun (front position)arm → forearmhead → foreheadground → foregroundleg → foreleg
- fore- + verb (anticipation)cast → forecastsee → foreseewarn → forewarntell → foretellshadow → foreshadow
Pronunciation: /fɔːr/, rhymes with "door." Do not confuse with "for-" (forget, forgive, forbid), which is a different Germanic prefix signalling prohibition or loss.
How it is pronounced
fore-/fɔːr/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Root word
With fore-
In a phrase
- castforecastThe forecast predicted heavy rain for the entire weekend.
- armforearmHe covered the tattoo on his forearm for the interview.
- headforeheadShe pressed a cool cloth against her forehead to ease the fever.
- seeforeseeNobody could have foreseen the outcome of the election.
- groundforegroundThe flowers in the foreground draw the eye immediately.
- warnforewarnShe forewarned her team about the likely budget cuts.
- shadowforeshadowThe opening scene seems to foreshadow the tragic ending.
Common mistakes
forehead is pronounced /ˈfɔːrhed/ everywhere
forehead is /ˈfɔːrhed/ in American English and often /ˈfɒrɪd/ in British English
The American standard is /ˈfɔːrhed/ (two clear syllables). Traditional British pronunciation is /ˈfɒrɪd/ (almost like "forrid"). Both are correct depending on the variety.
forecast = only used for weather
forecast applies to any kind of advance prediction
"Weather forecast" is the most common collocation, but "forecast" applies to any quantitative prediction: sales forecast, economic forecast, demand forecast, budget forecast.
A trick to remember it
Picture a ship's bow, the front part: fore- = in front, ahead. forecast (cast ahead in time), forearm.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"Nobody could have ___ the dramatic events that completely changed the outcome of the election."
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between "forecast" and "foreshadow"?
Frequently asked questions
What does the prefix fore- mean in English?
The prefix fore- signals a front position or anticipation of something: forecast, forearm, forehead, foresee.
How do you pronounce fore-?
The prefix fore- is pronounced /fɔːr/. For example, "forecast".
Can you give an example of a word with fore-?
"cast" becomes "forecast". It is a typical example of the fore- prefix.
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